Comments on: Want to Join the Tribe? http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/ Neil Kramer is a writer in Los Angeles. Citizen of the Month is his blog. Make yourself at home. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:44:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: amber http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-4160 amber Wed, 06 Jul 2005 15:55:52 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-4160 I do wanna join. I've been thinking about it for a while, just because. I'm not really religious and there's no where here for me to join 'the tribe' either, so maybe I just want it because I can't have it. Really I'm just curious about faith in general and the Jewish faith in general. I do wanna join. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, just because. I’m not really religious and there’s no where here for me to join ‘the tribe’ either, so maybe I just want it because I can’t have it. Really I’m just curious about faith in general and the Jewish faith in general.

]]> By: Neil http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-3046 Neil Wed, 29 Jun 2005 21:15:36 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-3046 Welcome, Jill. I'd chat some more, but there are two Jehovah's Witnesses at the door trying to convert me. Welcome, Jill. I’d chat some more, but there are two Jehovah’s Witnesses at the door trying to convert me.

]]> By: Jill http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-3045 Jill Wed, 29 Jun 2005 20:47:19 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-3045 Hi there. Found you at 2blowhards.com. I'm probably a member of that same Beverly Hills temple, but at the High Holidays, I sit between two ICM agents. Hi there. Found you at 2blowhards.com. I’m probably a member of that same Beverly Hills temple, but at the High Holidays, I sit between two ICM agents.

]]> By: Neil http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-2574 Neil Mon, 27 Jun 2005 07:08:01 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-2574 Proof that Jews don't run the world: If we were really running the world, Burger King wouldn't be allowed to serve that awful sausage and egg thing on a bagel. Proof that Jews don’t run the world: If we were really running the world, Burger King wouldn’t be allowed to serve that awful sausage and egg thing on a bagel.

]]> By: Esther http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-2572 Esther Mon, 27 Jun 2005 07:02:04 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-2572 Secret conferences? Sounds like we're running the world. And if we are, I'd like a piece of that action. 'Cause man, my rent's friggin' higher than Jay and Silent Bob outside a deli. Secret conferences? Sounds like we’re running the world. And if we are, I’d like a piece of that action. ‘Cause man, my rent’s friggin’ higher than Jay and Silent Bob outside a deli.

]]> By: FunJoel http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-2125 FunJoel Fri, 24 Jun 2005 00:24:56 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-2125 Wow! This comment thread has really taken off today while I've been slaving away! Okay, so I'll just add two things. First of all, for those who feel they can't speak about observance, or want to learn more, I am observant and am happy to answer questions, off the site. But I don't judge others or try to convince people what they should do, which is why I'm not rattling stuff off here! If you want to know, ask, and I'll answer. Secondly, while it is an established concept that Jews try to be an "Or LaGoyim" -- a Light to the Nations, this is different than proseletyzing and trying to convert. The traditional understanding (at least in my understanding) is that the Torah, as a moral guide, is for the whole world, but that doesn't mean that everyone (in our beliefs) should convert to Judaism. Rather, in the second portion of the Torah, there is a list of 7 basic laws that we believe all people must follow. They are known as the Noachite Laws, or the 7 Laws of the Sons of Noah. They apply to the world, who are not Jews. In fact, there are Noachite Synagogues scattered around the world today -- people who do not want to convert to Judaism, but believe they should follow these 7 laws, and celebrate the moral traditions of Jews. Wow! This comment thread has really taken off today while I’ve been slaving away!

Okay, so I’ll just add two things. First of all, for those who feel they can’t speak about observance, or want to learn more, I am observant and am happy to answer questions, off the site. But I don’t judge others or try to convince people what they should do, which is why I’m not rattling stuff off here! If you want to know, ask, and I’ll answer.

Secondly, while it is an established concept that Jews try to be an “Or LaGoyim” — a Light to the Nations, this is different than proseletyzing and trying to convert. The traditional understanding (at least in my understanding) is that the Torah, as a moral guide, is for the whole world, but that doesn’t mean that everyone (in our beliefs) should convert to Judaism. Rather, in the second portion of the Torah, there is a list of 7 basic laws that we believe all people must follow. They are known as the Noachite Laws, or the 7 Laws of the Sons of Noah. They apply to the world, who are not Jews. In fact, there are Noachite Synagogues scattered around the world today — people who do not want to convert to Judaism, but believe they should follow these 7 laws, and celebrate the moral traditions of Jews.

]]> By: Sophia http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-2124 Sophia Thu, 23 Jun 2005 23:52:20 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-2124 The fact is that throughout Jewish history conversion was both welcomed and encouraged. Many scholars believe that in the Bible, the Jewish People became "Chosen People" to spread the light of Judaism. Rabbi Schulweis, one of the most prominent progressive American rabbis, always gives these examples: The prophet Isaiah declared that God had "created and appointed you a covenant people, a light for the nations," and that the Talmud states that "God exiled the Jews from their homeland for one reason: to increase the number of converts." Jews were extremely active and successful proselytizers throughout the Roman Empire, until such activities were made a capital crime and forcibly suppressed when Christianity became the state religion. Here's an interesting article on the subject: WHY THE JEWISH PEOPLE SHOULD WELCOME CONVERTS Judaism, vol. 43, no. 3 (Summer, 1994) http://www.convert.org/judaism.htm Do I think it's a good idea? You bet your Kosher turkey bacon. Am I comfortable doing it myself? Not really. The fact is that throughout Jewish history conversion was both welcomed and encouraged. Many scholars believe that in the Bible, the Jewish People became “Chosen People” to spread the light of Judaism.

Rabbi Schulweis, one of the most prominent progressive American rabbis, always gives these examples:

The prophet Isaiah declared that God had “created and appointed you a covenant people, a light for the nations,” and that the Talmud states that “God exiled the Jews from their homeland for one reason: to increase the number of converts.”

Jews were extremely active and successful proselytizers throughout the Roman Empire, until such activities were made a capital crime and forcibly suppressed when Christianity became the state religion.

Here’s an interesting article on the subject:

WHY THE JEWISH PEOPLE SHOULD WELCOME CONVERTS
Judaism, vol. 43, no. 3 (Summer, 1994)

http://www.convert.org/judaism.htm

Do I think it’s a good idea? You bet your Kosher turkey bacon. Am I comfortable doing it myself? Not really.

]]> By: Jack http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-2123 Jack Thu, 23 Jun 2005 23:01:57 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-2123 This post made me smile. This post made me smile.

]]> By: Michael Blowhard http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-2092 Michael Blowhard Thu, 23 Jun 2005 21:07:09 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-2092 Funny posting, thanks. Still, I always had the vague feeling that many of the shrinks, profs, writers, and intellectuals this Christian-raised boy has known were trying to convert me to <i>something</i> like Judaism. Good lord but they could be adamant and full of fervor. Maybe Jews are as into proselytizing as any other religious group, they just do it indirectly? Funny posting, thanks. Still, I always had the vague feeling that many of the shrinks, profs, writers, and intellectuals this Christian-raised boy has known were trying to convert me to something like Judaism. Good lord but they could be adamant and full of fervor. Maybe Jews are as into proselytizing as any other religious group, they just do it indirectly?

]]> By: lizriz http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2005/06/23/want-to-join-the-tribe/#comment-2079 lizriz Thu, 23 Jun 2005 20:25:05 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/?p=159#comment-2079 Neil, You think you want me now? You should taste my brisket. Funny story: First time I went to make Hanukkah dinner I came home with groceries and my boyfriend, soon to be fiance, soon to be ex-fiance said, "What are the potatoes for?" I stared at him. "Latkas," I said. Like, hello? "Latkas?" he replied. Don't they make a mix for that? Oy! Neil,

You think you want me now? You should taste my brisket.

Funny story: First time I went to make Hanukkah dinner I came home with groceries and my boyfriend, soon to be fiance, soon to be ex-fiance said, “What are the potatoes for?”

I stared at him. “Latkas,” I said. Like, hello?

“Latkas?” he replied. Don’t they make a mix for that?

Oy!

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